Opening new store

[Eric Strauss]

Hi to all cyclists from amateur to the big league boys/girls. I am planning to open up a cycle store in the Bluff area in Durban. I got the store in sight, but before I will do anything, I got to do my homework. In buisness it's all about location, product and service. I would like to know from local cyclists how they would like having a store close to home.

[Dustbug]

Before you open a new store check with the suppliers, there are already too many stores in Durban and some suppliers will not supply any new stores impacting on stressed existing stores. the bluff does not have a big enough cycling comunity to keep a store going go and talk to the existing stores around you if they feel the area can handle a new store, you will be competing with Wisemans, Cyclesphere, Evans and Leigh's plus a few more in westville and pinetown.

[Eric Strauss]

Great! Thanks for the advise Dustbug, I am aware of the other cycle stores and like you said, suppliers won't just dish out to anyone if it can cause problems. I am here to do homework after all.

I do like great comments like yours and I hope more people would leave messages about opening a store on the Bluff.

[camerons]

I think there is plenty of scope for another bike shop in DBN, as long as you're good. The existing ones are all ****, without exception.

[Skylark]

I think there is plenty of scope for another bike shop in DBN, as long as you're good. The existing ones are all ****, without exception.

 

True that but then again a bike shop on the bluff?

[Caerus]

True that but then again a bike shop on the bluff?

Service the South Coast area/ Toti as well. Good luck with your venture, and wish you all the best

[BLACKvoodoo]

Hi to all cyclists from amateur to the big league boys/girls. I am planning to open up a cycle store in the Bluff area in Durban. I got the store in sight, but before I will do anything, I got to do my homework. In buisness it's all about location, product and service. I would like to know from local cyclists how they would like having a store close to home.

You're bluffing!

[MTBer wannabee]

Service the South Coast area/ Toti as well. Good luck with your venture, and wish you all the best

 

There is a Evans cycles in the new Arbour crossing mall in Toti. His range is not so great, but he is forever servicing bikes, so he must be doing something right.

[Eric Strauss]

All the cycle stores that's been around for a long time are great, there will be no real competition there, but I find it out the way from where I live to send a bicycle for sevice or when I quickly want a part. Product pricing will be basically the same to most stores, but it will just come down to a service that's being provided in the area. Maybe with an actual store around, the cycling community around here might grow.

Thanks again for all the comments, Please keep it coming.

[Chro Mo]

I think there is plenty of scope for another bike shop in DBN, as long as you're good. The existing ones are all ****, without exception.

Yeah. This is why I have learned to do my own servicing and building - everything except shock/fork servicing.

Eric, if you want it to work, you need to do the following, and then some:

a) Have honesty and intregrity as a cornerstone of your business

b.1)treat all people with respect

b.2) treat overweight people with respect and honesty, because theirs is an aspirational purchase, they want to better themselves, and don't need to be condescended to when approaching an LBS for advice. I was one of those, but lost 30kgs and am no longer. I was never ever viewed as a serious purchaser. Why? I've since spent close to 80k on bikes/products, and only a fraction of it in the Durban stores.

c) Make sure your mechanic(s) knows his sh#t! Mess up a cyclists bike, and you are done! Don't do stuff without permission - I hate that!

d) you need the range. I hate walking into a store and asking for something, only to be told that they do not have it. No offer to order it ever arises. Why?

e) charge viable prices - for you and the end user - don't tear the ring out of it.

f) make your store a destination - coffee/books/friendly staff/talks and seminars etc. The defining criteria in the States for a successful LBS is community. Create a community of passionate individuals who will, in turn, create a passionate and vibrant entity (your shop).

g) group rides - herein lies a gap. Unfortunately it takes a lot of PT and lost sleep, but an escorted/serviced ride is a thing we will pay for. Throw in the prospect of GOOD coffee at depart and arrival, and you've got me hooked.

h) make sure your staff know their sh#t - if you tell me that something I know to be true is false, do you think I will entrust my beloved bikes to you?

 

One last thing:

It takes a relatively short while for a cyclist to become hooked (or "obsessed", as my wife calls it).

We can sniff out a lack of passion in an instant. If you are passionate in what you do, you have a greater chance of succeeding, because that passion is transmitted to your customers in that same instant.

 

No-one can guarantee your success, but you may just do it.

Mess around, and you will fail - without any doubt.

 

This is Durban, after all.

 

I'll stop boring you now, so end of essay.

[Heckflosse]

Good thing!!! Best of luck with your business venture.

[Motard660]

 

 

There is a Evans cycles in the new Arbour crossing mall in Toti. His range is not so great, but he is forever servicing bikes, so he must be doing something right.

 

......or wrong!

[Big H*]

Offer classes on bicycle maintenance and repair and make ure you have a good wrench.

[Skylark]

Yeah. This is why I have learned to do my own servicing and building - everything except shock/fork servicing.

Eric, if you want it to work, you need to do the following, and then some:

a) Have honesty and intregrity as a cornerstone of your business

b.1)treat all people with respect

b.2) treat overweight people with respect and honesty, because theirs is an aspirational purchase, they want to better themselves, and don't need to be condescended to when approaching an LBS for advice. I was one of those, but lost 30kgs and am no longer. I was never ever viewed as a serious purchaser. Why? I've since spent close to 80k on bikes/products, and only a fraction of it in the Durban stores.

c) Make sure your mechanic(s) knows his sh#t! Mess up a cyclists bike, and you are done! Don't do stuff without permission - I hate that!

d) you need the range. I hate walking into a store and asking for something, only to be told that they do not have it. No offer to order it ever arises. Why?

e) charge viable prices - for you and the end user - don't tear the ring out of it.

f) make your store a destination - coffee/books/friendly staff/talks and seminars etc. The defining criteria in the States for a successful LBS is community. Create a community of passionate individuals who will, in turn, create a passionate and vibrant entity (your shop).

g) group rides - herein lies a gap. Unfortunately it takes a lot of PT and lost sleep, but an escorted/serviced ride is a thing we will pay for. Throw in the prospect of GOOD coffee at depart and arrival, and you've got me hooked.

h) make sure your staff know their sh#t - if you tell me that something I know to be true is false, do you think I will entrust my beloved bikes to you?

 

One last thing:

It takes a relatively short while for a cyclist to become hooked (or "obsessed", as my wife calls it).

We can sniff out a lack of passion in an instant. If you are passionate in what you do, you have a greater chance of succeeding, because that passion is transmitted to your customers in that same instant.

 

No-one can guarantee your success, but you may just do it.

Mess around, and you will fail - without any doubt.

 

This is Durban, after all.

 

I'll stop boring you now, so end of essay.

 

Amen , valid points

 

I stay about 100m from a big Lbs , but due to the aforementioned points I get my parts from 9,000km away at half the price including shipping. Stuff arrives in 2 weeks , that was shorter by 3 weeks than the 2 times I tried ordering anything unusual from the Lbs.

 

Lbs assistants also often know squat about what they sell and have the audacity to get uppity if you disagree , I learnt to my own disadvantage to take what they say with a libral pinch of salt - let your common sense prevail!!

[Greg29]

Yeah. This is why I have learned to do my own servicing and building - everything except shock/fork servicing.

Eric, if you want it to work, you need to do the following, and then some:

a) Have honesty and intregrity as a cornerstone of your business

b.1)treat all people with respect

b.2) treat overweight people with respect and honesty, because theirs is an aspirational purchase, they want to better themselves, and don't need to be condescended to when approaching an LBS for advice. I was one of those, but lost 30kgs and am no longer. I was never ever viewed as a serious purchaser. Why? I've since spent close to 80k on bikes/products, and only a fraction of it in the Durban stores.

c) Make sure your mechanic(s) knows his sh#t! Mess up a cyclists bike, and you are done! Don't do stuff without permission - I hate that!

d) you need the range. I hate walking into a store and asking for something, only to be told that they do not have it. No offer to order it ever arises. Why?

e) charge viable prices - for you and the end user - don't tear the ring out of it.

f) make your store a destination - coffee/books/friendly staff/talks and seminars etc. The defining criteria in the States for a successful LBS is community. Create a community of passionate individuals who will, in turn, create a passionate and vibrant entity (your shop).

g) group rides - herein lies a gap. Unfortunately it takes a lot of PT and lost sleep, but an escorted/serviced ride is a thing we will pay for. Throw in the prospect of GOOD coffee at depart and arrival, and you've got me hooked.

h) make sure your staff know their sh#t - if you tell me that something I know to be true is false, do you think I will entrust my beloved bikes to you?

 

One last thing:

It takes a relatively short while for a cyclist to become hooked (or "obsessed", as my wife calls it).

We can sniff out a lack of passion in an instant. If you are passionate in what you do, you have a greater chance of succeeding, because that passion is transmitted to your customers in that same instant.

 

No-one can guarantee your success, but you may just do it.

Mess around, and you will fail - without any doubt.

 

This is Durban, after all.

 

I'll stop boring you now, so end of essay.

 

Agree 100%!

 

Honesty

Respect

Great service - to customers and on bikes. (being good isn't good enough)

 

You will never compete with the likes of CRC on price but get what Chro Mo has said right and you're already 50% of the way to success.

 

If you can get a good coffee shop to open next door then you realy onto a winner! Coffee & Cycling always agree.

[Keep Pedaling]

"Offer classes on bicycle maintenance and repair and make ure you have a good wrench."

 

...or even better a good wench.